Metallica do an about-turn on internet downloading

Metallica, once leaders of the charge against Napster, are considering releasing their next album over the Internet.

The band, who released their last album 'Death Magnetic' in September, have reached the end of their record contract and now have "that element of complete freedom with the record," drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone. "We can do whatever we want. We could do an Internet thing."

Back in 2000 Metallica filed a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringements, unlawful use of digital audio interface device, and the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). They heralded the subsequent court ruling, which effectively shut down Napster, as an end to the exploitation of their music on the Internet.

Chances are that Metallica won't be following in Radiohead's footsteps with their "Internet thing" and letting the fans pay what they want for the download. It's also highly likely that the next release will be some time coming. "I wouldn't hold my breath for another Metallica record," says Ulrich, "If we spit out one every four or five years that's not so bad." [Rolling Stone]